Subrata’s money & justice theory

Singur, Dec. 18: Minister Subrata Mukherjee today joined the Trinamul bandwagon of those making comments against the judiciary, raising questions on the justice-delivery system at a rally in Singur.

“If you can’t hire a lawyer, you cannot win a case. Tatas and Birlas can spend crores to hire lawyers and you will lose the case. Good money, good justice,” the panchayat minister said at the rally to observe the death anniversary of Tapasi Malik, who was murdered in 2006.

Mukherjee’s speech echoed sentiments expressed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee during a seminar in the Assembly on August 14.

Junior agriculture minister Becharam Manna had said a few days ago that “Tata and the CPM got together and, with the help of judges loyal to them, defeated us in the Singur case”. He had also said: “If the Supreme Court verdict goes against us, the people of Singur will descend on the fields and enact a new law.”

Time for Manna

The high court today gave Manna four weeks’ time to file an affidavit saying why suo motu criminal contempt proceedings should not be started against him.

Referring to the court summons to Manna, Mukherjee said: “When he called for returning land to the unwilling farmers in Singur, he was asked to appear before the court. Is anybody talking about justice being denied? Bicharer bani ki nirabe nibhrite kaandbe (will the voice of justce weep silently in the wilderness)?”

The panchayat minister accused the judiciary of interfering in the functioning of the government.

“There are some loopholes in the parliamentary system. At times, the court does not judge what is right or wrong when delivering a verdict. I find the court ruling now. There is a separate wing for governance, known as the government. They will govern,” Mukherjee said. “Is justice delivered? I don’t know whether I will be asked to appear before the court for saying these things.”

Mukherjee indicated an out-of-court-settlement with the Tatas would not be possible till the case was on. “If an out-of-court settlement has to be worked out, then Tata Motors has to withdraw the case first.”